She wasn’t supposed to be there. Callum and his two friends Euan and Rob came across her as she caught a trout in Callum’s stream with her bare hands. Rob recognised her instantly. She’s Iona, daughter of a woman who robbed his father. Rob is relentless at chasing her off.
Callum, in awe of the stranger’s skill in the stream, follows her when his friends leave his farm. He’s worried for her, taking the things she left behind. She’s grateful, and soon shares a secret. There is an Osprey nest right there on the farm.
Again in awe, Callum knows how rare that is and how poachers would raid the nest in a heartbeat if they knew of it. Sharing this secret brings Callum and Iona closer together, but causes a rift between him and his mates.
Summer holidays are spent in Iona’s treehouse, watching and drawing the birds and their off-spring. Callum learns much from Iona about these amazing birds and their migration. Naming the female Iris after saving her from fishing line, they know she is about to set off for Africa for the winter. A local ranger has attached a tracking device on this rare bird, to enable them to learn more about them.
Suddenly tragedy strikes, summer has gone, and Callum has made a promise he doesn’t know how he’s going to keep. Iris is on her way to Africa and he has no way to protect her any more.
Aged only 11, travel to Africa is impossible for Callum and the tracking device via internet is the only way to know if she is still alive. Again, Callum is in shock. Iris’ tracker has gone dead.
His promise is lying sharp within him and he does the only thing left to him all the way from his high country Scotland sheep farm. Find someone in Africa to look for Iris.
This 10 year anniversary edition will capture a whole new group of readers interested in bird life, endangered animals, and the way we can connect with others around the globe in their protection.
Sky Hawk had me in awe of these rare Scottish birds, brought a tear to my eye, had me worried along with the main character, and smiling at the coming together of two cultures from different ends of the planet.
We see two perspectives in this novel – both Callum’s and Iris, the Osprey herself. This builds up the tension as Callum deals with peer pressure, fracturing friendships and the sudden loss of someone close. Osprey Iris is dealing with life threatening situations during her migration, and I often worried along with Callum whether she was still alive.
The connection between boy and bird is beautiful and a special part of the novel.
I’m really glad to have found this anniversary edition. It proves to me yet again that well written stories can travel the world for years, enlightening and entertaining readers along the way.
Author – Gill Lewis
Age – 9+
Read Chapters 1-3 here
(2012, 2021, Oxford University Press, Birds, Osprey, Scotland, Africa, Gambia, Tracking, GPS Tracker, Promise, Loss, Cooperation, Endangered, Rare, Community, Raising Money, Animals, Adventure, Family, Friendship, Grief, Growing up, Poverty, Secret)